Sheet separator



MJune 4, 1929. y c. W. HARROLD L ?lso SHEET SEPARATOR Filed 001;. 1., 1927 Ill Bm Y IN/VENTOR Patented June d, 1929.

. uNiTED TER COMPANY, F CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

SHEET SEPARATOR.

Application filed October 1 1927. Serial No. 223,310.

My invention. relates to sheet separating mechanisms for automatic sheet-feeders, and more particularly to pneumatic suction sheet separating devices especially adapted for use 5 when embodied in the pile sheet-feeders of the type shown in the U. S. Charles G. Harris Patent No. 1,112,609 of October 6,1914.

The objects of my invention are, among other things, to provide an improved telescopic suction separator which is adapted to seize and lift the successive top sheets from a pile or stack of paper, and then separate and advance each engagedsheet to the feed-rolls of the printing-press or other machine to '15 which the sheet-feeder is attached. A further feature of my invention is to provide a novel form of telescopic suction separator of this type which utilizes suction to lift the sucker intermittently against the tension of a spring which normally forces the sucker downwardly toward the pile. Such improved sheet separator will have a wide range of flexibility in picking up and removing the top sheets Asuceessivelv from piles of stock of varying heightsl' whereby the separationbf the individual sheets may be carried on with a high degree of accuracy, rapidity and general efficiency in action even when different grades and thicknesses of aper are used.

With these and other o jects in yiew, my invention comprises the constructions and operating parts forming the improved suction separator herein shown and hereinafter to be described as a preferred embodiment of my invention which is also readily adapted to lany form of suction sheet-feeder and is not to be restricted to the type shown in the C. G. Harris Patent'No. 1,112,609 issued as aforesaid. f 1 Y In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the improved suction head and sepa-v ratorshown in conjunction with a sheet-buckling unit asin embodied -in the Harris feeder, the sucker separator having been elevated to raise the top sheet (shown in dotted lines) from the pile with the suction released and the separatorslightly loweredto yits latched position; 'i i Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 1 showing the sucker as having been lowered by the 'expansible spring, and as having gripped the top sheet from the lloulged or buckled portion of the stock held between the combing buckler wheel and "presser-foot preparatory to the raising of the sucker along with the top sheet;

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged sectional views of the upper portions of Figs. 1 and 2 respectively, showing in detail the operation ofy the transverse piston and latch control for the release of the sucker for its lowering movement. Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

Referring to the figures, the feed-table 5 supports the ile or stack of paper stock 6 and at each of t e rear corners of the pile 6 is arranged a separating unit comprising the combing buckler wheel 7 which is yrotated inwardly (Figs. 1 and 2) vto frictionally engage the top portion of the pile 6 so as'to produce a series of traveling arcs or buckles in the topmost and subjacent sheets of the pile v 6, that portion of the pile-under the influence of the buckler wheel 7 being held firmly to the adjacent presser-foot 8 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. While the bulged portion 9 (Fig. 2) v is so held by the combing buckler 7 and presser foot 8, the suction sheet separator 10 is lowered to seize the topmost sheet 11 and is then raised with the top sheet 11 adhering to the separator 10 after which the combing buckler 7 is, lifted to the dottedline position shown in Fig. 1. Meanwhile the presser-foot 8 is thrown outwardly and then inwardly to again engage the pile 6 beneath the top sheet 11, and simultaneously blasts of air are projected from the hollow presser foot 8 whereby the top sheet 11 is winded from'the pile 6, and, while held by the suction separator 10, is caused to float or flutter out of contact with such pile 6. Then Suction carriers located at the .front of the pile (corresponding to the suction carriers 6 of the Harris Pattent No. 1,112,609) seize the top sheet 11, and by a horizontal forward movement advance this top sheetto the usual feed-rolls of the printing-press or other machinek to which the sheet-feeder is attached. The above cycle of operations iii sheet separation and feeding is substantially the same as that described in the Harris patent just mentioned.

. Referring more particularly to Figs. -1 and 2, the suction head 12 comprises the -main cylinder 13 in which issleeved the hollow c'ylindrical pistonl 14 having the piston head 15 secured to the lowerend thereof. The coils rin 16 axially disposed lwithin the iston P g .Y e P 14, and having its upper end bearing on the top plate 17 forming the top of the cylinder 13 and itslower end held in the socket 18 formed in the piston head 15, normally forces the piston 14 and head 15 downwardly to the extended position shown in Fig. 2. The socket 18 is connected with the tube 19 threadedin the bore 20 cut in the head 15 and the lower end of the tube 19 is provided with the usual rubber-lipped sucker 21 secured to the tube 19 by the lock-nut 22, which sucker 21 is adapted to be closed by and grip a sheet as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The piston head 15 has a projecting lug 23 i to which is fastened the vertically disposed latch-rod 24 sliding through the bracket 24a extending outwardly fromfthe walls of the cylinder 13. The upper portion of suction head 12 is cast so as 'to form the transversepiston chamber 25 in which slides the piston 26. Fastened to the piston 26 and extending outwardly therefrom on either side is the bar 27, the right end 28 of which is slightly tapered at its'tip 29 to cooperate with the shoulder 30 cut in the upper portion of the latch-rod 24 (Fig. 3). The open ends'o the chamber 25 are closed by suitable plugs 31 and 32. The plug 31 (at the left) is provided with a center bore 33 to receive the left end 34 of the bar 27. Coiled about the bar end 34 is the`spring 35 between the piston 26 and plug 31 which normally tends to force the piston 26 to the right so as to cause the tip 29 to engage the shoulder 30 to hold the piston 14 and sucker 21 in their raised positions asshown in Figsal and 3. The plug 32 is provided wit-h the transverse bore'36 of slightly larger diameter than the bar 27 through which the right end 28 of the bar 27 slides loosely to provide ai bleed for the chamber to the right of the piston 26, and also with a vertical. bore through which loosely slides the upper end of the latch-rod 24, the bores 36 and 37 intersecting at right angles as shown in the figures. The plugs 31 and 32 are held in their respective positions by the set screws 38 and 39 respectively. The top,portion of` the suction head 12 casting has cut therein the vertical port 40 communicating with the piston chamber 25 the upper part of the port 40 being enlarged to form the compartment 41 and its sidewalls being threaded to the pipe 42 which is connected with an air-exhaustin devicev (not shown) which creates the suction or exhaust. pressure by which my improved telescopic suction sheet-separating device is operated. Thenecessary valves to properly intermit the suction applied to the suction head 12 through the pi' e 42 are not shown as such means. actuated y the feeder to control the suction are common and wellknown in these suction sheet-feeders. The bottom of the compartment 41 is connected to the left portion of the piston chamber 25 by the inclined passage 43, and the piston 26 midway between its ends is provided with the annular groove 44 which is also adapted to register with the port 45 cut in thetopv plate 17; upon the horizontal reciprocating movement of the piston 26 the groove 44 alternately registers with the ports 40 and 45 (Figs.'2 and 4) to provide suction communication between the compartment 41 and the cylinder 13. Figs. 1 and 2 show the left end ofthe piston 26 as closing the ports 40 and 45 with the groove 44 out of alinement and with the latch-rod 24 held by the tip 29 of the bar 27.

The operation of my improved telescopic suction sheet separator is substantially as follows: When the combing buckler wheel 7 is revolving in a counter-clockwise direction,

the bulged portion 9 of the stock .held between the buckler 7 and presser-foot 8 is loosened or partially aerated (Fig. 1) and the bottom of the sucker 21 is open to atmosphere. Then as suction or exhaust'pressure is applied to the compartment 41 through the pipe 42, the piston 26 is moved to the left with the admission of air to the right of the piston `through the slightly enlarged bore 36 against the tension of the spring 35 thereby withdrawing the tip 29 of the bar 27 from engagement withthe shoulder 30 of the latch-rod 24. The release of the latch-rod 24 causes the piston 14 and sucker 21 to move downetl wardly (from Fig. 1 to Fig. 2) under the influence of the coil-spring 16 so asto bring the sucker 21 into engagement with the top sheet 11 of thebuckled portion 9 of paper as shown in Fig. 2. The transverse movement of the piston 26 to the "left also brings the annular groove 44 into alinement with the ports 40 and 45 thereby creating an exhaust pressurein -rthe main cylinder 13.and sucker y21 through the tube 19 'so that the top sheet 11 adheres to and is gripped by the sucker 21 as shown in4 Fig. 2. The suction or exhaust pressure so created in the main cylinder 13, tube 19 and sucker21 immediately causes the piston 14 to be raised against the spring 16 which is again put under compression, and

the' top Ysheet 11 is therefore lifted from the pile 6 to' its dotted line position shown `in Fig. 1 and lthen released, while the shoulder 30 .of the latch-rod 24 is raised slightly above vthetip 29 of the bar 27 which enables the latch to lbe reset with the latch-rod 24 bearing on the bar 27 when the suction is released from the compartment 41, while the force of the spring 16 is not enough to lower the piston14 when the suction is reduced suiicientlyto permit the piston 26 to be moved to the, right under force of the spring 35, the parts again taking their respectiveupositio'ns as shown in Fig. 1 for the succeeding cycle 'in .separating the next sheet. L

This improved telescopic suction'se arator i hereinbefore described may also be em odied inthe Vhorizontally reciprocating carriers .agradece which seize the front portion of the winded sheet and advance same to the feed-rolls 'of the press.

While the foregoing 'setslforth one embodiment of my inventiommany changes' in the structural details may bemade without departing from the principlesand scope of the inventlon or sacrificing the chief advantages involved.

I claim: A

1. A'sheet-separator comprising a suction cylinder, a sheet-gripping sucker movable in said cylinder, expansible means controlled by a latch for lowering said sucker to grip a sheet, and means controlled by the sheet sealing said sucker for raising the latter relatively to said cylinder and'resetting said latch. 2. A sheet-separator comprising a suction cylinder, a sheet-gripping sucker movable in said cylinder, expansible means controlled by a latch for lowering said sucker to' grip a sheet, and means controlled .by the sheet sealing said'sucker for raising the latter relatively to said cylinder while compressing said expansble means'and resetting said latch.

3. A sheet-separator comprising a suctionl cylinder, a sheet-gripping sucker movable in said cylinder, expansible means controlled by al latch" for lowering said sucker to grip a sheet, and suction-actuated means controlled by the sheet sealing said sucker for raising the latter relatively to said cylinder and resetting said latch. y i

4. A sheet-separator comprising a suction cylinder, a sheet-gripping sucker movable in` said cylinder, xpans'ible means released by va latch controlled by suction applied to said cylinder for lowering said sucker to grip a sheet, and means controlled by the sheet sealing said sucker for raising the latter relativex ly to said cylinder and resetting said latch'.

5. A. sheet-.separator comprising a suction cylinder, a sheet-gripping sucker movable in said cylinder, expansible means for lowering said sucker to holding said ex positionbut re ansible meaiisin inoperative.

grip a sheet, a latch normally' eased upon suction being ap. v

` Ilied tov said cylinder, and means controlled by the sheet sealing said sucker for raising the latter relatively to said cylinder. f.

6. A sheet-separator comprising a vacuum cylinder, a sheet-gripping sucker movable in said cylinder, latch-controlled means for lowering said sucker to grip a sheetwhensuction is applied to said cylinder, and means controlled by the sheet sealing said sucker for raising the latter relatively to said cylinder, said last means resetting said latch when the sucker is raised and suction is cut off from said c linder.

7. sheet-separator comprising a vacuum cylinder, a sheet-gripping sucker movable in 4said cylinder, latch-controlled means for lowering said sucker to grip a sheet when sucfor releasing said latch and raising the sucker' while compressing said spring.

9. A sheet-separator comprising a suction cylinder, a sheet-gripping sucker movable in said cylinder, a compressible spring controlled by a latch normally tending to lower said sucker to grip a sheet, and means con` trolled bythe sheet 'sealing said sucker for raising the latter and compressing said spring while resetting the latch.

10. A sheet-separator comprising a suction cylinder, a'sheet-gripping sucker vmovable in said cylinder, latch-controlled expansible means normally tending to. lower said sucker to grip a sheet,fsuctionlmeans'to,release said latch-controlled means, and means fo'r-:reset-A A ting said latch. v i CHARLES W. 'HARROLD. 

